ObjectDock - "Pinned to Desktop" still doesn't work properly in 2025

from Stardock Forums

Got myself a new computer that runs Windows 11, and so far, ObjectDock is not behaving as it should. No matter what I do, the dock floats on top of everything, even when the "Pin to Desktop" button is clicked and applied. This problem is reoccurring in both ObjectDock 2.0 and 3.0

In Windows 10, you could fix this by pressing Win+D/Win+M a couple of times until it fixed itself, but I've had no such luck with Windows 11, as the dock more or less permanently stays on top of everything you're doing.

You can somewhat get around it by setting it to "Regular", but then the dock disappears if you press Win+D.

 

This is a bug that dates all the way back to 2011, and someone should probably take a look at it.

Moved to ObjectDock area

objectdock other stardock software
26,893 views 23 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know your Windows 11 full version and OS Build number. Please use Winver.exe.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

242H - OS Build 26100.4202

 

Keep in mind this is a bug that's been hanging around since the Windows 7 Era, but it was much easier to get ObjectDock to behave properly again up until Windows 11. I even upgraded my ancient 2.0 licence just  in case this bug was fixed in 3.0, but it doesn't seem to have been. I have also seen threads that go pretty far back on the forums (like this one) about the very same issue. The easiest way to trigger the bug is to use Win+D/Win+M to minimise everything you're working on or manually click the little "show desktop" button hidden in the far right of the taskbar.

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I am sorry, I can not find the option for "Pinned to Desktop" on Object Dock. Please help me, show me where this setting at. Appreciate your help.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I apologise, it's called "keep on bottom", I'm just tired and dumb.

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

I made a short video showing the keep to buttom function, but I don't see the issue. Perhaps, I am looking at the wrong area.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

As you can see, it really loves ignoring the setting. It draws the dock on top of everything, and the only way to really fix it is to reboot your PC and hope it doesn't do it again.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

https://imgur.com/a/rXtJqrs Here you go, I recorded a video of the dock clearly ignoring behaviour, showing that it renders on top of everything instead of staying in the background like it's supposed to. I'd really like if it just never left the desktop and never rendered on top of anything like it used to in the past.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Any specific step you take to make it appear in front of your Windows everytime? I am trying to reproduce your issue in my system.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Win+D or pressing the "Show Desktop" button in the bottom right corner of the task bar seems to completely freak out ObjectDock, causing it to malfunction. That's at least the most consistent way to break it. Win+M also sometimes breaks it, but it's less consistent.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I can reproduce the issue with Win+D button. I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi aidainfection,

Thanks for posting. While I wasn't able to get this issue to reproduce initially, I did start to see it consistently after tinkering with the Quicklaunch Dock's Style/Color settings to mimic the Transparency you have set up for your Dock. 

While it's unclear why this might be, in my test I was able to prevent the issue from reoccuring by resetting ObjectDock's general program settings (as detailed in the link below). 

This won't reset the Dock configuration itself, and seems to be working reliably for me after logging out and back into Windows.  Can you check if that helps to resolve it for you?

https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1344602207/How+can+I+reset+ObjectDock+to+the+default+settings%3F

Please also know when testing, you'll want to exit the ObjectDock application itself after making any changes.  We've previously noticed it can misbehave if the configuration application is open when using the Docks.

Best regards,

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Customer Support Specialist

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Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Okay, I have done as you suggested, and from my quick testing, it seems to have worked perfectly fine for like five minutes and then it went back to how it behaved before, rendering itself on top of everything again. Also, this step also broke the UI, somehow.

 

 

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting aidainfection, reply 12

Okay, I have done as you suggested, and from my quick testing, it seems to have worked perfectly fine for like five minutes and then it went back to how it behaved before, rendering itself on top of everything again.

I've noted the Dock fails to stay in the background/the issue returns in my test the next time I open the UI.  Something seems to break when the UI itself gets opened again. This is now logged.

Internal Ref: ODNT-9998

As for the UI looking like that, I wonder if resetting settings again/closing the UI/rebooting might fix this.  I haven't reproduced this with my display's default recommended scaling.  It's possible there's something like that unique to your setup. 

Best regards,

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Customer Support Specialist

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm just using default Windows 125% UI scaling on a 2650 x 1600 display. The UI fixed itself after a reboot, but it's obvious that it isn't using a native box since the text is all blurry.

 

I've tested it some more, and it 100% breaks the dock behaviour when you press the "Show Desktop" button or Win+D, and that's even with the "Prevent docks from hiding when WinKey+D is pressed" setting enbled in Advanced Tweaks.

 

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

When you said:

Quoting aidainfection, reply 12

It seems to have worked perfectly fine for like five minutes and then it went back to how it behaved before

Are you able to identify anything specific you do in these five minutes or so, that made the behavior start to reoccur? 

For me, this happens when I open the ObjectDock UI again.  If I don't open it again after resetting the settings, my QuickLaunch Dock stays in the background.  Please let us know if you can identify what's doing this so it can be added to the log on the issue.

Thanks again,

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Customer Support Specialist

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

It's basically the same as yours. Opening the settings, Win+D or the Show Desktop button and sometimes also tinkering with the dock breaks it. Right now, I'm running it on "Automatic", which is less annoying to fix when it breaks, since it's sort of going back in the background after a Win+M or two, but I'd prefer it if the dock was never visible above windows ever. It just needs to hang out on the desktop and also not disappear when you Win+D/Win+M to minimise your current windows and go to the desktop.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Any updates? It's been quite a while now, have you guys managed to troubleshoot it?

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Nothing new to report on this one yet.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting aidainfection, reply 17

Any updates? It's been quite a while now, have you guys managed to troubleshoot it?

You should read the thread that has nearly 200,000 views in 10 months to understand that Objectdock 3 is not compatible with Windows 11 as announced and that nothing is planned to fix a paid product.

 

Since I don’t take users for fools, I’ll let you find the thread yourself.

 

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting aidainfection, reply 20

So, did you guys fix it yet? It's been quite a while now.

Unfortunately, there is nothing new on this one yet.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

@aidaifection > There will be nothing.

Since October 2024, the problem has been identified.

https://forums.stardock.com/531213/objectdock-3x-not-compatible-with-windows-11-24h1-showing-desktop-will-hide

Microsoft decided to change things, and Stardock should have adapted.

Instead, it is burying its head in the sand while selling software advertised as Windows 11 ready even though it is not.

Stardock, please stop lying to your customers

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Come on, guys. You've had a full year to fix this issue. It works perfectly on a certain freeware alternative that I cannot mention without breaking forum rules. If what's essentially abandonware works better than the program I paid real money for, and was advertised as Windows 11 compatible, you guys should really start trying a little harder.